A cold front moved over the Northwest corner of Alabama during the afternoon on May 24, 2001. Ahead of the cold front, moisture increased across parts of North and Central Alabama. A large storm system was drifting across the Great Lakes Region. This storm system spread cold air in the upper level of the atmosphere across parts of North and Central Alabama. The cold air aloft and daytime heating increase atmospheric instability across the area.

The combination of atmospheric instability, moisture and the approaching cold front came together during the afternoon to produce scattered thunderstorms. Some of the storms became severe, mainly producing large hail across parts of North and Central Alabama. A weak tornado was produce by a storm moving across the Aspel, Alabama, area of Jackson County. Another severe storm produced wind damage from the Bremen area across Hanceville and Garden City in Cullman County, and Blountsville in Blount County.